1.

Light as Waves

Let's first look at some properties of waves. Electromagnetic waves move (propagate) at the
speed of light (c = 3.00 x 108 m s-1). They have a wavelength denoted by λ, and they have
amplitudes. The amplitude is the strength of the electric or magnetic field. Note that the wave
can have zero amplitude (every point where it crosses the horizontal axis), but is still
propagating.

Example 1. Find the frequency of red light having a wavelength of 700 nm.

ν = c/λ = (3.00 x 108 m s-1) / (700 x 10-9 m)

= 4.29 x 1014 s-1

(= 4.29 x 1014 Hz)

Example 2. Find the frequency of blue light from a mercury lamp having a wavelength of 435.8
nm.

ν = c/λ = (3.00 x 108 m s-1) / (435.8 x 10-9 m)

= 6.88 x 1014 s-1

(= 6.88 x 1014 Hz)

(higher that that of red light - blue light is more energetic than red)

Example 3. Find the frequency (ν) of a γ-ray having a wavelength (λ) of 3.56 x 10-11 m
ν = c/λ = (3.00 x 108 m s-1) / (3.56 x 10-11 m)
= 8.42 x 1018 s-1
(makes sense, since this is a higher frequency than visible light)

Example 4. Find the frequency of a radar wave with λ = 10.3 cm

ν = c/λ = (3.00 x 108 m s-1) / (1.03 x 10-1 m)

= 2.91 x 109 s-1
(much lower frequency, as expected)

Example 5. Find the wavelength of an FM signal having a frequency of 106.1 MHz (i.e. CHEZ-
FM)

λ = c/ν = (3.00 x 108 m s-1) / (106.1 x 106 s-1)

= 2.83 m

2. Light as waves and as particles

We can also think of light as particles - photons. These will have specific energies, and we can
use Planck's equation to relate their wavelike characteristics (frequencies or wavelengths) to
particle-like characteristics (energies).

Example 1. Find the energy of photons from:

(a) IR radiation having λ = 1.55 x 10-6 m (=1550 nm)
E = hν = hc/λ = 6.63 x 10-34 J s ((3.00 x 108 m s-1) / 1.55 x 10-6 m))
= 1.28 x 10-19 J (per photon)

To find the energy per mole of photons, multiply by Avogadro's number:

E = 6.022 x 1023 mol-1 x 1.28 x 10-19 J
= 77,300 J/mol
= 77.3 kJ/(mol photons)

(b) UV radiation having λ = 250 nm

Note that this is a much shorter wavelength than the IR radiation. Thus, we expect the energy to
be higher per photon. This is why UV radiation is more damaging to your skin than IR.

As above,

E = hν = hc/λ = 6.63 x 10-34 J s ((3.00 x 108 m s-1) / 250 x 10-9 m))

= 7.96 x 10-19 J/photon

To find the energy per mole of photons, multiply by Avogadro's number:

E = 6.022 x 1023 mol-1 x 7.96 x 10-19 J/photon
= 479000 J (mol photons)-1
= 479 kJ (mol photons) -1

Example 2. Iodine molecules (I2) can be dissociated into two iodine atoms by light if the energy
of the light is sufficient. Experiments show that the wavelength of the light must be less than
499.5 nm.

(a) What is the frequency of 499.5 nm light? What part of the electromagentic spectrum is this
light in?

Visible light has wavelengths from 350 to 800 nm, so this is in the visible portion of the
spectrum.

(b) Use Planck’s equation to calculate the energy of dissociation of iodine. Express your answer
in kJ/mol.

E = hν = hc/λ = 6.63 x 10-34 J s ((3.00 x 108 m s-1) / 499.5 x 10-9 m))

= 3.98 x 10-19 J/photon
To find the energy per mole of photons, multiply by Avogadro's number:
E = 6.022 x 1023 mol-1 x 3.98 x 10-19 J/photon
= 239700 J (mol photons)-1
= 239.7 kJ (mol photons) -1
= 239.7 kJ (mol I2)-1

3. If an electron can have wavelike properties, so can any moving object:

1. Calculate the wavelengths of:

(a) an electron moving at 1/20th the speed of light:

λ = h/mv = (6.63 x 10-34 J s) / ((9.11 x 10-31 kg) x (3.00 x 108 m s-1 / 20)
= 4.85 x 10-11 m (The units work out to be m, since a Joule (J) is a kg m2 s-2.)

(b) a neutron moving at the same speed:

λ = h/mv = (6.63 x 10-34 J s) / ((1.67 x 10-27 kg) x (3.00 x 108 m s-1 / 20)
= 2.65 x 10-14 m

(more massive particle = more energy = LOWER wavelength)

2. A major league baseball weighs approximately 142 g. Find the wavelength of a 95 mph
fastball.

here, v = 95 mile/h x (1.62 km/mile) x (1000 m/km) x (1 h / 3600 s) = 42.8 m s-1

thus λ = h/mv = (6.63 x 10-34 J s) / ((0.142 kg) x (42.8 m s-1)
= 1.09 x 10-34 m (much more massive particle; even though the velocity is small, the wavelength
is very small, i.e. very high energy)

3. A photon strikes a metal surface and causes an electron to be ejected at 2.2 x 103 km s-1. If the
electron behaves as a wave, what part of the electromagnetic spectrum is it in?

λ = h/mv = (6.63 x 10-34 J s) / ((9.11 x 10-31 kg) x (2.2 x 105 m s-1)

= 3.31 x 10-9 m = 3 nm

ν = c/λ = 3.00 x 108 m s-1 / 3.31 x 10-9 m = 9.1 x 1016 s-1 (which is in the far UV region, close to
x-ray frequencies)

4. Atomic Spectra

Energy levels in a simple hydrogen atom can be calculated using the Balmer-Rydberg equation:

1/λ = R[1/m2 - 1/n2] where R is the Rydberg constant, 0.01097 nm-1, n is the upper energy level
and m is the lower one.
Note that three series of lines have been identified, differing only in the value of m. If m=2, we
have the Balmer series, in the visible range. If m=1, we have the Lyman series, in the UV range.
And if m=3, we have the Paschen series in the IR.

Note also that if n=infinity, this is the largest energy transition in the series, and 1/λ = R[1/m2].

For example, lines in the Brackett series have m=4. Find the wavelength of the “first line” in the
series (which means the lowest energy transition). Also find the photon energy in kJ/mol.

1/λ = R[1/m2 - 1/n2]

The first line has n=5.

Thus, 1/λ = 0.01097 nm-1 [1/42 - 1/52] = 0.000247 nm-1. Thus λ = 1/0.000247 nm-1 = 4051 nm
(which is in the IR portion of the spectrum).
E = hν = hc/λ = 6.63 x 10-34 J s (3.00 x 108 m s-1) / 4051 x 10-9 m = 4.90 x 10-20 J/photon
x 6.02 x 1023 mol-1 = 29,600 J/mol photons = 29.6 kJ/mol

For example, find the ionization energy of a hydrogen atom whose electron is is initally in the
ground state (which means the lowest energy level).

To solve this, note that to ionize the atom, we must remove the electron completely. The energy
required to do this is the energy the electron will gain moving UP from m = 1 to n = infinity,
which is the same as the energy the electron would lose if it fell from n = infinity to m = 1:

1/λ = 0.01097 nm-1 [1/12 - 1/∞2] = 0.01097 nm-1. Thus λ = 91.1 nm (UV)
E = hν = hc/λ = 6.63 x 10-34 J s (3.00 x 108 m s-1) / 91.16.63 x 10-9 m = 2.18 x 10-18 J/photon
x 6.02 x 1023 mol-1 = 1314356 J/mol photons = 1,314 kJ/mol.